40 Simple Ways to Build Trust in Your Website Visitors by Ankur Patel

Let me start this article by asking a simple question to you. If you give contract to build your home, to whom you will give? Someone new or someone who is trusted by your close friend or relative? Of course the answer is - someone trustworthy person/company -by you directly or by someone in whom you trust (your friends/relatives). As you know that "Trust" is really important in life and that's what exactly I want to mention here to bring success in your website. As a business person, remember this: If people trust you, the revenue will follow automatically!!!

It is absolutely necessary that your website must create the environment of trust otherwise, most of your efforts will be wasted. Have you ever thought - how to create the environment of trust for a website? Don't be panic, its very easy to build trust for your online visitors.

If you want to know how your site ranks (in terms of building trust online), then visit: http://www.infotrex.com/siterank and know by yourself, where your site is ranking.

As you already know that - you don't get a second chance to make a first impression. Building trust for your online visitors cannot be achieved by just a single action. Trust is achieved by many little actions you do throughout your website and when its taken together, give users a sense of stability, honesty and legitimacy for your business and services you provide.

If you want to know how your site ranks (in terms of building trust online), then visit: http://www.infotrex.com/siterank and know by yourself, where your site is ranking.

Another good or bad news is that only few website owners focus on building trust in the minds of their visitors. So, if you do it well, it can become a real and sustainable competitive advantage for your business and you can keep your competitors away.

Here are 40 simple actions you can take to get started.

1. Your website design is the first impression. Make sure it is professional and relevant to the subject matter.

2. Navigation must be intuitive. If visitors can't find what they are looking for easily, they will question your competence in providing what they want.

3. Make the website personal by giving it its own tone and voice. People buy people.

4. Follow the HEART rule of creating online content. (Reminder: HEART stands for Honest, Exclusive, Accurate, Relevant and Timely.)

5. Use language that is appropriate to the audience. It will build empathy.

6. Regularly add new content to your site. It shows that the business is alive and kicking.

7. Review all links. Doubts will quickly form in your visitors' minds if links don't work or, worse still, take them to error pages.

8. Good grammar and spelling matter. Errors give the impression of sloppiness and carelessness.

9. Don't make outrageous and unbelievable claims, like "Read this blog and you'll be a millionaire by the end of the week." People are used to scams, get-rich-quick schemes and rip-offs.

10. Publish REAL testimonials and third-party endorsements. Try to always use real names and link to websites where possible. Some sites show images of letters sent by happy customers.

If you want to know how your site ranks (in terms of building trust online), then visit: http://www.infotrex.com/siterank and know by yourself, where your site is ranking.

11. Publish case studies about customers you have helped, who use your product, etc.

12. Don't put down, curse or insult competitors. It's unprofessional. It is better to offer an objective comparison of competitive services or products.

13. Focus on building your long-term reputation, not on making quick sales.

14. Write articles for humans, not search engines.

15. Make your 'About Us' page personal and comprehensive. It plays an important part in making visitors feel comfortable that real people are behind the site.

16. Publish your photo or the photos of the key people involved with the site. Again, this reinforces the fact that there are real people behind the screenshots.

17. Clearly identify who is behind the site. Nothing creates more suspicion than a site that tries to hide the identity of its publishers.

18. On the 'Contact Us' page, provide an email form, telephone number, fax and address of the company. In Europe, it is a legal requirement for sites taking funds, but even sites driven by advertising will benefit from openness.

19. Provide a telephone number that people can call and talk to a person.

20. Provide Web addresses linked to the website domain, not addresses from free webmail services such as Hotmail and Gmail.

If you want to know how your site ranks (in terms of building trust online), then visit: http://www.infotrex.com/siterank and know by yourself, where your site is ranking.

21. Think carefully about reciprocal links. If your site is about organic food and you have links to Party Poker, people are going to question your integrity.

22. Think carefully about the adverts you display on your site. Ensure that they are relevant to your subject and audience.

23. Write and publish your privacy policy. Be clear about what you will and will not do with any personal data you collect. State that you adhere to all data protection laws. Make it easy to read and don't use legal gobbledygook.

24. Write and publish a security policy. State what measures you take to ensure that all transactions are secure as well as how well you handle customers data.

25. Ensure that you have a security and privacy policy which is linked from the footer on every page. Make the link more prominent on all the order pages.

26. Clearly publish your guarantee. I would recommend making it a 100% money-back guarantee if possible.

27. Clearly state your refund and returns policy.

28. If you use PayPal, put the PayPal logo on your site. If you have a merchant services account with a major bank like Citibank or HSBC, put its logo on your site.

29. Use Google search on your site for two reasons. First, it is a great search solution which will help your visitors find what they are looking for. Second, having the Google name on your site instills trust.

30 If there are well-known industry associations for your subject, join up and put their logos on your site.
If you want to know how your site ranks (in terms of building trust online), then visit: http://www.infotrex.com/siterank and know by yourself, where your site is ranking.

31. Have a forum on your site and respond quickly to questions. Have the attitude that you are happy to help others without receiving immediate reward. As the old saying goes, 'Givers always gain.'

32. Allow people to comment on articles. Interactivity and an exchange of views build community and a sense of involvement.

33. If people provide constructive criticism or comments in the forum, don't delete them, but respond with your point of view.

34. Use the words 'secure website' whenever you try to get any information from visitors, including newsletter sign-ups, forum input and payment.

35. On every page, state, "We take your privacy and security very seriously." Link the statement to the security and privacy policy.

36. If you are selling a subscription, offer a low-cost, entry-level option. This could be a one-day taster, 'a week before billing starts' or a monthly trial.

37. Only ask for information from customers that you really need. For example, for an email newsletter sign-up, the only information you REALLY need is an email address, so that is all you should ask for.

38. If you have pricing on your website, make it transparent. I recently went to buy a book which was advertised for $10. When I checked out, they added tax, post and packaging, and the final bill was $19.50. I didn't buy it as I felt they had deliberately tried to mislead me.

39. Start a small newsletter of your company/services & circulate it among your clients/employees. Also, publish it on your website regularly.

40. Allow people to "unsubscribe" from your mailing list. This may sound very obvious, but I have found that many websites still don't follow it.

To ensure that you are continually improving your trustworthiness, every time you go to a website, ask yourself whether you trust it or not. Then ask yourself why you have formed the opinion you have.

If you want to know how your site ranks (in terms of building trust online), then visit: http://www.infotrex.com/siterank and know by yourself, where your site is ranking.About the

Author

I'm your host-Ankur
Patel-your outsourcing partner based in
India. For my day job, I run Infotrex
Services(Managing Information 4 U) -
http://www.infotrex.com and work with a
small team of smart developers for
supporting clients based in USA,
Canada, UK, Italy, Ireland, Australia
etc. We help all clients to succeed in
their online business by SEO(Internet
marketing)

Work at Home Data Entry: What You Need To Know Before You Start by Jeff Casmer

While jobs for data entry have been projected to decline over 2014, a number of businesses are looking to outsource. The greatest obstacle for anyone looking to become a work at home data entry worker is finding a legitimate work at home data entry opportunity to become employed in.
It is not as if all the job opportunities are scams, the problem lies with the fact that there is not a great demand for them thus competition is great among those who want and already do work in this field.
True, the nature of the work would seem as though there is plenty of room for virtually everyone. And this seems true from a shallow viewpoint.
Some of the tasks that are sent out to work at home data entry business operators are typing text and entering data into their home computer and transferring the work via telephone or cable lines. They key in text into computers, and perform other duties such as proofing and editing material to help organizations keep up with the demand of this "information age."
The information may include membership lists, medical records and customers' personal information.
Anyone with the right education can do this. However, finding a company that wants you to for a fair wage is where the game of hide and seek come to play.
In-house, office based jobs differ from what you normally see advertised online.
Web-based data entry jobs are usually ad typing work. This may include writing little classified ads for businesses.
Now this is a perfectly legitimate job, there are numerous organizations out there that need people to do this; however, keep in mind that for many of these companies you do not get paid unless someone buys the product from your ad. Unless you are a marketing maverick, and are willing to spend 20 hours a day typing ads, the income displayed on the work at home data entry job website is not generally made.
Thus the search begins for something a little more professional-clerical duties and the like. Anyone who has tried to make a living online knows that success is not without competition. And when it comes to searching for these types of work at home data entry jobs you will have ample competition even if you feel you are more than qualified.
There are many sites that are great places to look for work at home data entry jobs. Many have the ability to pull jobs from most of the job listing sites and put them all in one place, making the search a little easier for you. Trouble is everyone is looking at that same job. Thus you need to search everyday for jobs that are suitable to your needs-everyday. You also need to create a resume and cover letter that is ready to impress.
While you are in the process of promoting create business cards and flyers to hand out to small business letting them know of your services.
Avoid free listing sites if possible. Scam artists usually use free classified job boards to lure in victims. Membership sites tend to be a little safer.
Next be wary of doing business with a company that uses a free email service.
If the company asks for a fee before answering any questions walk away.
Check, check and check once more to find out all you can about the company.
Finally, do not be afraid of competition. If you come across a job posting for a work at home data entry job that you would like to do go for it. Many people miss out on great opportunities for fear of actually getting involved. Once you find a company that works for you, do all you can to work for them.About the Author
Jeff Casmer is an internet marketing consultant and work at home business owner. For more information on work at home data entry please visit his "Top Ranked" Work at Home Data Entry Directory gives you all the information you need to Work at Home in the 21st century.

Typing For Cash - Is It For You? by Tom Dahne

All over the internet there are differing opinions when it comes to typing for cash. There are some people that enjoy it very much and like picking up the extra income on the side. Then there are the people that absolutely dread doing it and feel they get nothing from it. The only way you can determine if typing for cash is for you is to try it out.

You will find out fairly quickly whether or not they are for you. Sometimes you do not have a choice. If you are in need for extra cash, typing data entry, surveys, or articles can be a great way to pick up the slack. It takes up very little of your time and can supply you with a high hourly wage. The problem is that you will not become rich off of it.

Anyone that expects to become rich from typing online needs to do a little bit more research. Typing for cash is more for the people looking to make more money on the side of their other job or business. There are people claiming you can make six-figure incomes, but this is only setting you up for failure.

Another problem some people have with typing for cash is that it is repetitive and boring. There is very little skills or knowledge required to type online. It is to your benefit if you are a decent writer because you will be able to get much more accomplished a lot quicker. But overall, it does not take a genius to type online. For some people, it is the challenge of a job that keeps them motivated.

The last concern you may run into is that the sky is not the limit like every other online opportunity. You are limited to the amount of work that is available. That is primarily the reason why people do not get rich from taking surveys. Sure, you will have an incredibly high hourly rate. But that does not mean much if you are only putting in five or ten hours a week.
Now that all of the concerns are out of the way, how about some positives. While it can be frustrating not getting that much work, it can also be great if you have another job that is demanding. You can type for cash whenever you want at whatever time of the day. And because there are few hours to put in, you can still focus primarily on your main job.

You will find that it is extremely flexible as well. If you need to take time off to focus on other things, you can easily take a few weeks or months off and then come right back to where you left off. There are no legal bindings or contracts that are holding you back. And this is something that you will find with very few professions in the world.

These are a few of the things that may help you decide whether or not typing for cash is for you.
But all in all, the best way to determine if it is for you is to try it out and see what kinds of reactions you get.About the Author

Article Written By: Tom Dahne

Typing For Cash is a very useful website with links related to websites that offer type at home opportunities, visit http://www.typingforcash.com
Tom Dahne is also the owner of the very popular Link Directory that invites webmasters to submit their sites for review and inclusion for free in Link Directory, visit http://www.linkdirectory.com

HOW TO DRIVE TRAFFIC TO YOUR SITE, PART II by Matthew Eigbe

Search Engines and Links

Search engine optimization with the correct use of keywords is just one part of the battle plan to drive visitors to your website, something you have to do if you want to be successful in your at-home online business.

Search engines, their computers unable yet to read like humans, now look for links from other sites. The logic is that if the webmaster of another site thinks yours is worth linking to it must contain good information worthy of a higher ranking in the search engines.

In the constant battle for position, this led to things like link farms and mass link swapping. This defeats what the search engines try to do: present their advertisers with the best relevant content, and so they now penalize sites that use these tactics. They look for links that are on topic and offer value to the visitors to your page. They also give more weight to incoming links than they do to links that are exchanged. And the more highly ranked a site is by Google, the more value is given to that link.

How to get links

So how do you get these links? Some will come by themselves, if your site is good enough, but they will probably not come to an affiliate site and certainly not to one provided for you in cookie-cutter fashion by a company for which you are selling. But if your relied on these chance links, you'd die of old age before achieving your objectives.

You could write the appropriate webmasters and ask if they are interested in exchanging links with you, and some of that may be appropriate. But for the most part, it is both time consuming and frustrating. You will write a lot of e-mails that are not even acknowledged.

One of the best ways - and a quick way - to achieve good inbound links is to write articles - information articles - in some way connected with what your business is about. Make sure they are not sales articles, or full of hype. Make them of solid value to the people who will receive them. Don't even mention your business in the body of the article. There is room for that in a comment box at the end of the article.

Getting published

Getting them onto other websites with a link back to your site is easy. Just sign up at EzineArticles.com, follow the guidelines, and submit your articles to them. This article database is used by thousands of ezine editors. If your article is picked up, you can be sure that the relevant type of website is using it. And most sites will have good Google scores.

When it comes to driving traffic to your website, you need to give as much as you can to your visitors and to others. Be open and honest. If you constantly try to help, it shows and is ultimately rewarded tenfold.

No tricks

The search engines are a key ally in your struggle to gain more visitors and more recognition for what you are doing. Work with them, not against them. Try to understand what the search engines are attempting to do, and why, to look after their real audience: advertisers.

Recognize, too, that they have thousands of highly qualified and smart people on the payroll just looking for webmasters who try to use tricks to get higher positions in the listings. Use tricks and they will catch you and penalize you heavily. Your site quite likely will get banned.
Play the game honestly, work to provide your visitors with as much good content as you can, keep providing more and more useful information, and you will work your way higher in the search engine rankings.

There are other sources of traffic and these include placement of advertisements in ezines, classified pages and the use of pay-per-click (PPC). It's hardly possible to employ all traffic generation methods because of time and monetary constraints, just as it is difficult to employ all media vehicles in offline advertising. What's important is having a balanced mix and working it efficiently.

About the Author

Matthew Eigbe has over 25 years experience in consumer marketing and now focuses on network marketing using the internet. He is webmaster at http://www.mattlinks.ws, a site that explains how you can gain Financial Freedom by inviting people to have their own domain name.

Outsource Virtual Assistants - Your Online Helping Hand by Erwin Renan Daclan

Before the advent of outsource virtual assistants, businessmen, individuals who own small companies and other solo professionals usually place themselves in a dilemma. They offer their services and show their products as well as doing related tasks like performing customer service, marketing and day to day schedules. Although the latter is equally important in maintaining the business, it does not help directly and more significantly some clients are not being serviced because their focus is somewhere else.

Small office/Home Office business (SOHOs) usually are the ones who suffer from this. Large firms are more equipped in addressing these problems. A SOHO's requirements are always changing, but most are usually best if their assignments are limited in scope and duration. Many of these SOHO's may not have the resources to obtain an on-site employee or the equipment or space that they need even if he is on a part-time basis.

But now, new advances in technology has brought forth a new type of workforce. It is known as Virtual Assistance. It has greatly helped these SOHO's in improving their businesses.

These VPAs, as Virtual Personal Assistants are called, are professionals who provide client support and administrative services through outsourcing. These are done mostly through the newer Internet technologies like voice chat and video conferencing and also through traditional phone, fax and email methods. Since it is done remotely, the location is therefore irrelevant. An outsource virtual assistant can help his/her client regardless of where he is located.

A VPAs can perform tasks like event and travel planning, contacting customers, management of databases and provide help by doing online research. Some may even do transcription and customer support.

VPAs can cover a wide range of services. Some can even perform specific ones. There are VPAs that can do website design and search engine optimization (SEO). The specific skills that these VPAs provide is a great help to their selected clients.

Other VPAs who are limited in their time and abilities are most of the time partnered with related companies that will provide added services. These help their customers greatly by providing them with a one stop shop wherein most of the services are there. It also improves customer service.

VPA services for a full time agent starts at just $725 a month. It seems costly but they being independent contractors, the expenses that they incur like regular employees are not the problem of the customer. These VPAs are skilled professionals who have their own offices that are fully equipped. They are ready to work at a moment's notice. They get paid only for their time worked. And lastly they enable their clients to focus their energies on what's important; which is to do activities that generate income.

Having someone to do administrative tasks for you is one of the benefits of aquiring a VPA. These great remote online helpers strive for collaboration and are goal-oriented in their business organization.

Rest assured, an entrepreneurial outsource virtual assistant thinks nothing but success for his client's company. He is always seeking the big picture and dedicated in achieving impressive results.


About the Author

Erwin Daclan is a Davao-based Virtual Personal Assistant aka Outsource Virtual Assistant at Agents of Value.
I can do Secretarial Tasks. I perform tasks such as word processing, database management, research tasks, I also do Outsource Audio Transcription and PC Tech Support[PC Troubleshooting].

Live Chat Support Software and Outsourced Customer Support services by Steve Marshell

'A new frontier for Customer Support for Online Customers through Free Live Chat Support Products and services' What has become more of a fundamental than a phenomenon is that Good Customer Support and Service as well as Satisfaction has somewhat of a direct correlation with business venture success. Quality customer support as well as customer relationship management are the key drivers which reward any business whether made of bricks or working solely on the click based model. An online customer service solution easily assures satisfaction to customers who are constantly seeking help and answers to their queries.

We should always customer's needs and improvise services that they would not find elsewhere. The most embarrassing situation is one wherein the customer proactively asks for information through mails, whether electronic or otherwise and the customer support lacks the punctuality to reply in time. For physical retailers as well as others offering customer support it has never been a question since all interactions and support occur real-time but what is daunting is the support on web which needs to be real time as well as interactive. By interaction I mean undivided attention to each one of your customers and active conversation displaying concern for all what he requires.

What is required for Click Based models to achieve customer satisfaction and effective CRM is Real Time live Chat Support System. Such a system is analogous to online Help Desk wherein a Chat Support Software with live Customer Care Representative or popularly known as an Operator or a chat assistant provides Chat Support and handles issues about certain products and services. Such a Real Time Web Interface offering Live Chat Support becomes an essential component of a marketing strategy and therefore to be seriously considered as an alternative to off line help desks or voice based Customer Support interface..

Traditionally the method of offering customer-service was through toll free phone line; however with the help of live chat software, it is possible for company representatives to have a one to one chat with the website visitors in real time and provide live help and support to the customer instantaneously. In addition to the above services the online businesses also have the advantage of keeping track of the number of visitors. This provides an opportunity to cross sell as well as up sell products as well as services through Pro-Active Chat Prompts wherein looking at a live online visitors preferences for products judged through real time statistics available in such software, the Customer Care Representative can look prompt the online visitor and offer help.

One such service is being offered by May I Help You Zone in addition to many others flourishing in the growing size and scope of the World Wide Web. Businesses where the major point of interaction is their online presence as a website can avail the Live Chat Interface free of cost for a limited period of time where they can use their own operators.

What is unique is that May I Help You Zone also offers Customer Support Function which the website or E-commerce initiative owner may outsource. It may seem a simple Business Process Outsourcing event but a detailing of the processes involved would further elucidate the fundamental difference between providing voice based support and Live Chat Support for products and services.

The Live Chat Software too is practically trouble free to use, all we need is a Web Browser and no standalone software installation is required.. There is no software to install or any servers required for using the software. Once the code of the live chat software is embedded in the web pages it is possible for all end users of the live chat software like customers, administrators and operators to use live chat software provided by May I Help You Zone through a standard web browser that is connected to the Internet. Sitting at any corner of the Globe and connected to web one just needs to log through the website of the Free Live Chat software to chat with web site visitors. Perhaps it is a small step in replacing the missing human touch and spirit to satisfy an online visitor with instant solutions to his problems by reducing his effort in finding it across on your online channels but is a giant leap towards creating a greener dimension to Customer Support.

The Live Chat Software offered by May I Help You Zone is 100% secure with options of web analytic services as well as monitoring online visitor statistics.

About May I Help You Zone

May I Help You Zone Web based live chat software for real time customer service offer live chat support and 24X7 support with dedicated operator services catering to the needs of your diverse functions ranging from sales, marketing, purchase, vendor management and a host of other services by mayihelpyouzone.

Resource:- http://www.mayihelpyouzone.com/component/option,com_fireboard/Itemid,47/func,view/catid,12/id,5/#5

About the Author

Steve Marshell.

Online Home Based Business - Virtual Assistant

Gone are the days of secretaries being tied to desks outside the boss’s office. With the advancement of technology, a new online home based business is developing along with it – the virtual assistant. This online home based business allows someone to do almost all of the administrative tasks necessary for a business from home, which benefits both the employer and the virtual assistant. By not having to pay for benefits, an online home based business as a virtual assistant becomes appealing especially to smaller companies on a smaller budget.

For many employers, hiring a virtual assistant is much more cost effective. This online home based business allows employers to hire someone to do simple administrative tasks outside of their office, saving space. Also, since this online home based business means that the individual is a contracted employee, usually the employer does not have to pay for training, healthcare, or vacation time.

Still, if you are considering starting your own online home based business as a virtual assistant, you need to realize that it is still work. You will first need to determine what type of virtual assistant you want to be, and you will need to gear your online home based business toward that niche. Then you will need to decide how much time you want to devote to your online home based business so that you can set appropriate limits as a virtual assistant.

Yet, you need to understand that the first days of your online home based business will probably require you to work more hours than you originally wanted to work. After all, you are still in the building phase of your online home based business as a virtual assistant, and you will want to establish solid practices to gain clientele. During this time of building your online home based business as a virtual assistant you will need to remain flexible.

Also, creating an effective marketing strategy is essential to starting your own online home based business as a virtual assistant. You know your niche, and now you need to market your online home based business to those that will use it the most. Remember, you are trying to build your online home based business, so it is good to market yourself as a virtual assistant wherever you go. Even joining a networking group is effective if you want to build your home based business as a virtual assistant, as many companies are often looking for help with administrative tasks.

Read the rest of the article here: Online Home Based Business.

Download the Free Quick Start Workbook (Free $97 Value!) and receive valuable tips, strategies and techniques designed to grow a very successful Home Based Business.

Copyright © Charles Fuchs is an established Six Figure Income earner and one of the top online marketer's. He specializes in showing people the Best Work at Home and Home Based Business on the internet.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Fuchs

Benefits of Having a Virtual Office

As the possibilities created by new technology shifts the focus of business away from the traditional office building and toward a more free-form virtual office system, it’s important that you take the time to consider whether a virtual office might be able to help your business flourish in the twenty-first century. If you aren’t familiar with the term, a virtual office is a form of collaboration among self-employed individuals and those who work from home. This collaboration allows these virtual officemates to share files, work on different aspects of jobs in order to reach a common goal, and generally to perform the same services that would be performed within a standard office but without the undue stress of that sort of office environment.

Why a Virtual Office?

There are a number of reasons that you might choose to either establish a new business with a virtual office or to convert and existing business into a virtual office format. Choosing a virtual office can lead to a great reduction in mental stress that would otherwise be caused within an office, and often provides individuals with more chances for physical activity throughout the day as well. For the environmentally conscious, a virtual office can mean that you will spend less time in polluting traffic and you will also drive less in general since you won’t need to commute in order to get to work. As an added bonus, by being able to set your own schedule you will find that you have more time during the day to do the things that you want to do with friends and family while experiencing a productivity increase from being able to work when you are most physically and mentally prepared for it instead of simply when you are scheduled to be at the job

How to Establish a Virtual Office

In order to set up a virtual office, you should begin by making sure that every office member has an internet-ready computer which meets their software needs as well as access to fax, copy, and other professional services. Create a mail drop for any mail that the virtual office would receive, and take the time to hire an accountant and an administrative assistant (or a “virtual assistant”, who specializes in administrative duties for virtual office companies.) Contact your local government to make sure that all of the proper paperwork has been filled out and submitted, and also be prepared to make tax payments to the IRS for all of the employees that will be working from their own home office setups alongside you.

Virtual Offices and Productivity

Though many people fear that they would be unable to work in a virtual office because the temptation to do things other than work would be too strong, many virtual office workers find that their productivity actually increases once they become accustomed to setting their own schedule and pacing their day accordingly. Because your work flow will be more in tune with the natural flow of your day, you can tailor most of the time that you spend working to match the times of the day or night when you have the most energy and are more focused on the tasks at hand. The important part of establishing good productivity within a virtual office is that a series of rules and regulations must be created for all employees and freelancers to follow. These rules may include payroll policies, timesheet documentation and submission, protocols for client contact and interpersonal correspondence, and the development of rules concerning use of the virtual office website and databases. The important thing is to make sure that the rules which you create are both fair and reasonable, so that they can help personal productivity to flourish instead of causing it to stagnate due to policies which are too strict.

Telcom & Data offers superior products at affordable prices. To learn more on how to get your own virtual office you can click here to choose which virtual office best suits your needs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ricardo_Trinidad

Outsourcing The Building Of Websites To Low Wage Countries by Danny Wirken

Understanding Outsourcing

Outsourcing is the delegation of tasks or jobs from internal production to an external entity. At present standards, it has become more related to hiring the services of staff overseas where salaries are markedly low as compared to the local existing standards. It is primarily done by companies to save money, improve quality or free company resources for more important activities.

Low-cost countries such as China, India and Venezuela continue to attract companies to move things offshore and outside their own boundaries. However, outsourcing should not only be seen as a cost-cutting maneuver but also as a way to produce important strategic benefits. One thing that is slowly being recognized is that there are savings to be gained in sourcing knowledge and talent as there are cost savings in sourcing things.

The sourcing of knowledge and technology provides access to better processes or efficiencies as well as more efficient management procedures. Outsourcing opens the way to make use of specific specializations of entities that would otherwise not be available. More and more companies are starting to realize that the probability for attaining excellence is much higher if it concentrates its efforts on its core activities. Other tasks such as building of websites are better left to professionals. The good thing about the present status of building of websites is that the service can also be outsourced to offshore companies. A company can now have the benefit of a much bigger and better site for the same amount of money spent in the US for a regular site.

The forerunners of outsourcing have exhibited much competitiveness in terms of well-developed telecommunication and IT infrastructure, good business services and having a pool of qualified people. This is the very reason for the so-called India advantage. India ranks first among the most favored outsourcing destinations due to its varied inherent strengths. It has a booming IT industry which is recognized all over the world. It has the largest English speaking population after the USA and has excellent training infrastructure. India's government is also very supportive of outsourcing activities. Not to be forgotten of course is its cost-effective manpower which caught the initial attention of companies seeking ways to reduce costs.

Outsourcing should not be construed as abdicating responsibility but rather as leveraging outside capabilities. When organizations outsource, they do so because they would want to leverage the distinct skills and resources of other organizations to the benefit of their company and their customers. The basic business philosophy underlying outsourcing is the delegation of business activities that isn't of core competence. It is about accepting the fact that no single company can be particularly good at everything. It is about using this known fact to assess a company's strengths and weaknesses. Once a company is clear about what it considers essential, then it will be able to focus on broader business issues while having operational details assumed by external experts. Outsourcing has long ceased to be a strategy used during bad times only as in cutting operational costs. It has also become a business strategy used during good times to focus on the company's growth.

Building of Websites

Outsourcing has introduced teleservices to numerous organizations worldwide. It can be broadly referred to as information-based work performed at a distance from the customers. Its market can be divided into three categories namely tele-processing, software export and interactive teleservices.

The first category covers tele-processing which includes all back-office functions performed in remote information processing factories. Specific tasks such as data conversion services, remote technical staff and content management are performed by an outsourcing company. Content management would in turn include content services for websites, database maintenance and refresh, various design services and even animation. The second category includes website development and related e-business applications development while the last category provides technical support to owners of PCs and peripherals.

Website development requires a special touch that only experts in this field would know. It is not just about producing a website but ensuring proper full scale websites that incorporates web design and placement, Internet marketing and optimization to gain the right listing on search engines. A web services firm specializes in the planning, design and development of web based business-to-business sites.

Optimal website placement is crucial to the success of any website. Web services firms are expected to provide a complete, professional design that is based on a client's specific business environment. The design and layout of text, logo and graphics is as important as the ease of navigation. Special attention is given to color, white space, type fonts, background elements and other related items as these make up the artistic elements of a website. The aim is to create a website that projects a professional image, while at the same time, pleasing to the eye. The design should also be search-engine friendly and scalable for future add-ons.

The high-quality content of websites is the leading reason for repeat visitors followed by ease of use, quickness in downloading requested information and frequent updating. One area of a corporate work load that is best outsourced is website management and maintenance handled by web professionals. A company stands to reduce costs by eliminating the need to maintain a full time website specialist, web developer, artists, designers and network administrators.

There are a lot of choices when it comes to website development providers. The important thing to consider is how well they would be able to respond to each company's unique specifications. A company will do well with the services of a provider that guarantees proper maintenance and updating of a website for the least possible costs. Most website development firms offer affordable hourly and retainer agreement based contracts and plans.

A company may wonder what logic lies behind outsourcing the building of websites to low wage countries. Offshore outsourcing firms located in developing countries have a wide range of world-class website development services to offer at affordable prices. Generally, they are always interested in building mutually-beneficial partnerships with overseas companies. India has opened the way as it revealed its most important natural resource which is the abundance of technically skilled manpower. Cost-effective services are provided without compromising the quality. Other developing countries are making their presence felt in the industry. Common sense tells us that any company stands to gain more if it is able to access the same quality of services and products for a considerably reduced cost.

About the Author

http://www.theinternetone.net/Categories_Internet_marketing_6.html

11 Secrets To Better Time Management For Entrepreneurs by Kristie Tamsevicius

Why is it that the Bill Gate's of this world are rich and famous? What secret do they know that the rest of us don't? If you study their lives closely, you'll discover the rich and famous have certain habits that attribute to their success. Successful people are very careful about how they spend their time. No matter how you slice it, we all have 24 hours in a day, so the key lies in learning to use our time wisely. Below are some ways you can dramatically increase your productivity through more effective use of your time.

1. MONITOR HOW YOU CURRENTLY USE YOUR TIME: If it seems like your day slips by all too quickly, try creating a log of your daily activities. Once you see where you are spending your time, you can identify and focus on the activities that provide the greatest returns for you personally and financially. Start your log by writing down what time you wake up, get ready, and begin work. Calculate how much time you spend on individual activities such as email, phone calls, and client work.

=> FREE TIME TRACKING TOOL: Here's a personal time survey to help you discover how much time you spend on various work activities: Personal Time Survey Tracker

2. CALCULATE HOW MUCH YOUR TIME IS WORTH: Time is money. Knowing how much your time is actually worth can help you make better decisions as to whether you should perform a task or outsource it. For instance, if your time is worth $200 an hour, you are far better off paying someone $30 an hour to edit your newsletter. You can "bank" the other $170 per hour by spending your time on profit making activities. Also take the time to determine how much time a day you need to spend on billable activities to make your desired profit. I try to spend 1.5 hours a day on money making projects.

=> FREE TIME COSTING TOOL: Here's a time costing worksheet to help you determine how much you are actually when you subtract the expenses. Time Costing Sheet

3. CREATE A DAILY SCHEDULE: Don't start your day without a to do list. Make a list of tasks and categorize them into business building activities, client activities, and personal items. Then break bigger unmanageable projects into smaller "doable" chunks so they less intimidating and are easier to accomplish.

=> FREE DAILY TO DO LIST: Try this free all inclusive WebMomz To Do List

4. PRIORITIZE: Have more to do than hours in the day? By prioritizing your tasks, you'll make sure that you are tackling the items that matter most. Create a system that works for you. One standard way of prioritizing is to mark items with A, B, and C.

Ask yourself these key questions:

What items MUST be done today? Which items can be rescheduled? What can be delegated? Which tasks most closely match my priorities and goals? Which items can be eliminated?

5. LEARN TO SAY NO: Are you adding one more item to your never-ending TO DO list? You are in control of your time. Be strong and uphold your personal boundaries. When you are well rested and treat yourself and your family to the time off you deserve, you'll feel happier and more productive when it's time to go back to work. **

Before you say yes, ask yourself these questions:

Do you really have the time or energy to do that extra task? Do I like this customer? Are they good for me? Will it be profitable? Does it invade on your personal time? Does it involve doing something you enjoy? Does it fit in with your list of priorities and goals?

6. REMOVE DISTRACTIONS AND TIME SUCKS: Time sucks are lurking everywhere like viruses. Think about which activities are eating up your time. For me personally, these items include email, social calls, and telemarketers. I "conquer" the email demon by shutting down my Outlook when I am working. When a family member calls during work time, I politely ask if I can call them back during the afternoon and remind them of my work hours. Caller ID valiantly saves me from the "would be" telemarketer time thieves. With one glance, I can quickly differentiate telemarketers from important client calls.

7. STICK TO THE PLAN: Try not to get sidetracked from your plan. One of my friends has a motto, "A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency for me". It's a smart one to live by. Unless it's a true emergency, or you are being paid "rush" time, you probably don't need to squeeze a last minute request in today. Also, by assigning yourself project deadlines, you can keep on top of projects and avoid those dreaded last minute emergencies.

8. CHOOSE AN INSPIRING PLACE AND TIME: We are all "built" differently. Do the tasks which take your most "brain power" when you are at your prime. Are you a morning person or do you work best burning the midnight oils? Create an ultimate work haven that is clean, distraction free, and inspiring. My office overlooks my flower garden and is right in the heart of family activity. As I glance to the right, our Angel fish "Spike" proudly parades across the fish tank. In front of me, Monet has a glorious display of peach poppies in a field. Above me, Monet is painting a vivid portrait of his flower garden. In the living room, my son is softly singing the Spiderman theme to himself - music to my ears!

9. BUNDLE LIKE TASKS TOGETHER: As you work through your daily list, try to chunk your tasks into like activities. By creating a separate "chunk" of time for answering email, invoicing, making return phone calls, you'll save time and mental energy.

10. AVOID INTERRUPTIONS: Trying to do the same thing over and over again with interruptions can be maddening. Once you start a task, try to finish it to the end. If something comes up that you need to remember or do, unless it's urgent, simply add it to your list and continue on with your current project.

11. BE ORGANIZED: When things are tidy, it saves you time and frees you to focus on the task at hand. Digging through a pile of papers and finding a squished Twinkie isn't very conducive to the work experience. Follow your own organizational style. PHONE LISTS: For instance, I arrange my phone lists into groups according to how I use them: friends, family, doctors, my children's playmates, etc. I also list people in my phone book that I talk to on a first name basis by their first name alphabetically. For instance, I list my mom under "M" and my brother under "T" for Troy. "D" has a list of all my doctors. This works for me, because it's how I think.

EMAILS: Another time saving idea is to color code your emails. In my personal color scheme I use one color for clients, one for newsletters, and another for my coworkers. You can also group your emails using categories and folders.

ONE CALENDAR MEETS ALL: Keeping track of work appointments, Brownie meetings, and committee meetings can be very difficult. My secret to keeping on top of family and work appointments is to schedule them all on one calendar.

DAYTIMER SPECIAL SECTION: Create a special section of your Daytimer just for special interests, hobbies, or kids. My husband keeps one with all his stock info. I have a special kid section with phone numbers for Brownie leaders, playmates, doctors, school contacts, bus number and other items.

SUMMARY: Why wait for success when you can literally schedule it! By mastering your time, you can accomplish much more with less effort. Be choosey about how you spend your time. Focus on activities which most closely match your goals. By taking time to monitor, measure, and manage your time, you will enjoy an abundance of success and happiness.

About the Author

Kristie Tamsevicius, is the author of "I Love My Life: A Mom's Guide to Working from Home"! Thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs have used her step-by-step home business system to earn money working from home. Get a free ecourse Home Business Success Secrets at http://www.webmomz.com/ilovemylife1.htm

Outsource Your Hiring Process by Dana Wallert

Are you drowning in resumes? Is your phone constantly ringing with people (mostly unqualified) asking about open positions?

A lot of small business owners and human resources managers run into these issues. Yes, hiring new employees is your responsibility.

However, it is certainly not your only responsibility. You can't always spend as much time dealing with prospective employees as you might like. Somebody has to finish the payroll, handle all the benefits claims, schedules and everything else that's on your plate everyday. People would certainly notice how much you have going on if they didn't receive their paycheck on time or get their vacation time!

A lot of small business owners and hr managers are now choosing a new option to help them deal with all the hassles of advertising positions, pre-screening employees and setting up interviews. Outsourcing all or part of your hiring process can provide some much needed relief. Some virtual assistant companies are now offering these services.

Hiring a virtual assistant (VA) or virtual hiring assistant can be a very cost-effective and efficient way to handle all the tasks filling a position requires.

Virtual assistants can assist you in the hiring process at any and all levels. You decide what steps you'd like to outsource to them and how involved you'd like them to be in the process.

Four of the most common hr services virtual assistants provide in this area are:

1)Placing Employment Ads- Not only can this save you time, but if you find a virtual assistance provider that regularly provides hr services, it can save you lots of time researching the best places to place your ads. You can use your virtual assistant not only as a service provider but also as a consultant. Ask them if they've placed ads for similar positions in the past and where they got the best results.

2)Handling All Initial Responses- This is one area where you can really decide to what degree you want your virtual assistant involved. Most VA's who provide this service can set up unique response e-mail box when posting your jobs with autoresponders. They can also set up an incoming phone number that they can answer to deal with all the initial inquiries.

3)Pre-Screening Applicants- Most you have probably experienced being overwhelmed with resumes and applications. They can come in such a flurry that its hard to even distinguish those who are actually qualified from those who simply aren't. Your virtual assistant can filter through the resumes for you based on criteria you provide or even perform pre-screening phone interviews with questions you provide.

4)Reference checks- Actually getting in touch with your prospective employee's references can be an on-going hassle and game of phone tag. A virtual assistant can dedicate a lot more time to being available for references to call back because they aren't tied down to all of the responsibilities you have at the office. They can check personal and professional references for you.

A virtual assistant can really simplify your hiring process. If you are a small business owner or hiring manager who is always strapped for time, you may want to explore this option.

About the Author

Dana Wallert is the owner of an online virtual assistance company. She has many years experience in retail sales, as well as office management. Find more about Dana and sign up to receive her free monthly newsletter at http://www.dwofficesolutions.com

Working at Home? Here's 10 Ways to Be More Productiv by Alexandria Brown

Ah, working at home... Visions of leisurely days, conference calls in comfy sweatpants, increased productivity with fewer interruptions. But the distinctions between work life and home life soon blur. You really should throw some laundry in the wash before you write that proposal. You have an hour before a meeting: Should you balance your books or clean the kitchen? And remember to call that client back right after you empty the cat box.

Welcome to the real world of working at home: unforeseen distractions, a lack of structured time, and sometimes a perceived loss of identity. But don't give up the dream just yet! By putting into place a few simple ideas, you can reap more of the rewards of working at home. Based on my experiences and those of my associates, here are 10 simple ways to help you stay on track.

**1. Separate Your Space**

Keep a separate, distinct work area in your home. (This is especially difficult if you're living and working in a shoebox studio, like I was when I started my business in New York City!) If you don't have a separate room, at least define an area, and know that when you're in it, you're in "work mode." Make sure your roommates and family are aware of this as well.

**2. Structure Your Time**

As your business and personal time mesh, it's more important than ever to structure your day. For example, if you regularly take a walk or go to the gym, try to do it every day at the same time. Value that personal appointment with yourself - even when you're very busy. It will actually help you keep your business on track! I like to get up early and work until noon, then I take a few hours off to enjoy lunch, do some reading, and take my daily jog on the beach. Then I'm back at my desk at 4:00 until who knows when!

**3. Outsource All You Can**

When I began my business, I made the mistake of acting as my own courier service. I soon learned how much time I was wasting by visiting clients too much just to pick things up and drop them off. Whenever you start thinking, "Well I can do that myself," STOP. Streamline your business, making everything as automatic as possible. Use outside services to stay focused on your *real work*. Get accounts with an overnight delivery service, messenger service, virtual assistant (VA), bookkeeper, etc. Save your energy for your brilliant ideas! : )

**4. Use Technology to Your Advantage**

In-person meetings are very valuable when appropriate, but schedule them sparingly. Try to do most of your business via phone, fax, and e- mail using the best equipment you can afford. For most home-based entrepreneurs, when you're out of the office, you're NOT making money. So it's important that you can communicate flawlessly from where you are. And PLEASE do us all a favor and get separate lines/services for your phone, fax, and Internet! No one likes getting a busy signal.

(BONUS TIP: If your phone company offers voicemail, get it. Not only will your outgoing message sound more professional, but if you're on an important call and don't want to be disturbed, other callers can still leave you a message.)

**5. Group Your Errands**

Try to group your meetings and errands together to minimize your out- of-office time. Make a list in the morning of all the outside tasks you need done for the day, and attempt to complete them in one fell swoop. Even better, do what I do and designate just one day a week as your "blitz" day for errands and meetings. I like doing this, because then I need to get dressed up only one day a week! : )

**6. Stay Focused**

Make your workspace off-limits to other roommates or family members when you're working. For you animal lovers, this may go for pets as well. (My cat Francine gets *very* jealous when I'm not giving her complete attention!) Keep all personal paperwork such as bills and magazines out of sight, so as not to distract you from your projects.

**7. Beware of Yappers**

Many of your friends and family will be immediately delighted when they learn that you're working at home. They picture you lounging on the couch, eating potato chips, and waiting for their calls. When they call you simply to chat, politely remind them that you're working, and ask them if you can call them back after your day is over. It may take them awhile, but they'll eventually "get it."

**8. Work With Your Moods**

Keep track of your moods and productivity compared with the time of day. For example, if you find you're more alert in the morning, use this time to make important calls and do your creative work. Take advantage of your natural cycles. If you feel better after an afternoon nap, go for it! (I'm a BIG proponent of the catnap. In fact, I may start a support group. : ))

**9. Suit Yourself**

To bring out your best work, make your environment perfect for YOU. How do you work best? With plenty of breaks, or with no interruptions? In silence, or with some light music in the background? On a cushy couch and coffee table, or at a business desk in an ergonomic chair? (My friends thought I was nuts when I spent $700 on my Herman Miller Aeron chair, but they quickly understood why once they sat in it! And my spine thanks me every day.)

Also, find some places you can do work when you need a change of scenery. How about the library, the park, or your neighborhood coffee shop? When I need to do serious reading, thinking, or editing, I take my work outside to the beach. The sea air, sunshine, and soothing waves help me think much more clearly.

**10. Break for People**

Feeling sluggish, lonely, or moody? Arrange for at least one social break during the week. (I aim for two or three.) Schedule breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even just coffee with a client, vendor, or friend. Join a business networking group, or sign-up for social activities such as dance class or recreational sports league. Don't go into hermit mode - it can be self-destructive!
About the Author

Alexandria Brown's FREE biweekly e-zine gives "how-to" tips on writing compelling copy for Web sites, brochures, and e-zines. Learn how to ATTRACT NEW CLIENTS and strengthen your customer relationships! Subscribe today at http://www.akbwriting.com or via mailto:AKBMarCom-On@lists.webvalence.com

PubliCity Outside Your City: Outsourcing For More Affordable PR Services by Todd Brabender

We all know that the Internet has taken away geographic boundaries in the business world. The accessibility and expansiveness of the Internet allows the entrepreneur/business owner anywhere in North America to search outside his local yellow pages for the best and most affordable services available. This is especially true when it comes to finding PR/publicity services for your business. What it boils down to is . the Inter'net can mean a 'net savings in your publicity budget.

A few months back, I got an email from a California client who discovered that the local part-time freelance publicity specialist he had hired was charging three times the amount I charge and providing half the services I offered. Because of that, the client hired me to work with the freelancer in heading up this nationwide campaign launch. The freelancer told me that because of West coast cost of living/overhead, he was forced to charge the higher fees -- surprisingly, he was one of the cheapest publicity pros in that area! I have heard stories like this time and time again from clients who hit the 'net in search of a cheaper alternative to PR services listed in their local directory.

That fact was drilled home to me even more when I recently took a detailed look at my portfolio of clients. I was surprised to learn that over the last few years more than 40% of my clients for my Midwest-based PR business have come from the West coast, another 25% from the East coast and 10% from Canada. A quick e-mail polling of clients revealed the same story over and over. They simply found it hard to locate professional, affordable PR services in their area, so they turned to the Internet to find it.

Frankly, for publicity campaigns restricted to your city/region, I recommend going with a local PR specialist/firm. They typically know the local media market best and have solid media contacts there. But for a national or industry rade specific publicity campaign for your product/business, explore the possibility of hiring a PR individual or team outside your geographic area -- especially if your product has nationwide appeal. One client remarked that he liked how our campaign brought a Midwest feel to his East coast-based business and helped him open up potential new business avenues. Another client said he looked to outsource to a small to mid-sized city PR business because, as he put it, "No matter the size of the office, West coast PR firms seemed very plastic and glitzy, while the East coast firms seemed to be too hectic, almost frantic." That may indeed be a huge generalization on his part, because I'm certain there are wonderfully professional PR businesses in almost every city.

Be advised -- mechanically, most PR agencies do basically the same thing. Sure each firm/office/freelancer has their strong points. The major difference lies with the respective creativity, ingenuity and professionalism of the PR individual or staff. Don't take this to mean that "cheaper is better" - there is certainly something to be said for the phrase "you get what you pay for". Just don't pay three, four or even ten times as much to get you the same amount of quality. Look for a firm that can give you an entire campaign from start to finish -- release/kit, media market research, media contacts, large-scale media distribution, media tracking/clipping -- not just a $100 - $500 release distribution.

Take to the 'net and see what you can find. Above all, ask for references, writing samples, publicity placement history -- where they have generated publicity for past clients. Make sure they are technologically advanced enough to get timely, high-quality publicity information to media outlets all over the nation that benefits your business. Look for a PR service with a broad range of media contacts in multiple formats (print, broadcast & Internet) and strong media tracking capabilities. Some PR pros promise to pitch your campaign to hundreds of magazines and newspapers when your strongest media market may be in radio/TV shows & newscasts -- or vice versa.

I am not reinventing the PR wheel here, I am simply saying that when it comes to generating publicity for your business/website/venture/invention, the best match for you may not be in the big glass building in your city's downtown. Big firms in big cities most often mean big fees and not necessarily big quality.

Bottom line -- the Internet is giving entrepreneurs of all types the opportunity to afford publicity -- publicity from outside your city.

Todd F. Brabender Spread The News Public Relations Generating publicity/media exposure for innovative businesses, products, inventions & experts. http://www.SpreadTheNewsPR.com info@SpreadTheNewsPR.com


About the Author

Todd Brabender is the President of Spread The News Public Relations, Inc. His business specializes in generating publicity/media exposure for innovative businesses, products, inventions & experts. http://www.SpreadTheNewsPR.com info@SpreadTheNewsPR.com

Choosing The Right Strategy for your Online Business: Pay for Inclusion vs Pay per Click by Richard Zwicky

Back in the old days of the Internet - in 1993, - there were 284 locations on the entire World Wide Web. According to Bill Clinton, only 8 of them ended in .com or .net when he was sworn into office. As of January 1, 2003, there were 171,000,000 domain hosts in use. In 1995, the largest search engine database was Altavista, and it had most of the Internet categorized. Today Google and FASTsearch own the largest databases. Yet neither one of them has even 10% of the Internet covered. It's estimated that more than 8,000,000 web pages are added to the Internet every day. None of the search engines are able to keep up to that pace. So how will your website stand out? How will it acquire the traffic it needs to succeed? There are many ways to approach the issue of marketing an online business, but for the sake of this article, we'll concern ourselves solely with online tools, and ways to expedite success. In that vein, we'll concern ourselves with Pay for Inclusion and Pay for Placement (or Pay per Click) advertising.

Some engines, such as AltaVista, Inktomi, Looksmart and FAST, use a pay for inclusion model. What this means is that to be guaranteed to be found within that specific search engine index, the website operator must pay a fee to be listed. It's similar to the fee a business pays for a Yellow Pages listing. These fees vary from monthly to annual. Looksmart charges a listing fee, plus a fee of $0.15 per clickthrough.

Engaging a Pay-for-Inclusion service does not come with any placement guarantees. If your website is not properly optimized, but you paid an inclusion fee, it is guaranteed to be indexed and listed somewhere within that search engine. If you want to ensure success with a Pay-for-Inclusion search engine, then your website must still be optimized. Without proper optimization, which includes an analysis from the perspective of all the factors that the search engines look for, a pay for inclusion service will not deliver the desired benefits to the website operator.

When properly matched with a comprehensive Search Engine Optimization regimen, a Pay for Inclusion program will result in powerful results: Qualified Traffic, Customers, and Relevant Traffic.

Pay per Click advertising is the process by which a web site operator can arrange for a website to be placed in a pre-defined position within certain search engines, such as Overture.

Search Engine Placement is always a Pay-Per-Click solution. While advertising websites are only permitted to buy advertising in search queries that are relevant to their content, they are not sorted by relevance but rather purely based on bid value.

Pay per click services allow advertisers to bid for each visitor directed through to their web site, based upon the number of clicks the ad receives. Pay per Click search engine placement should be realistically viewed for what it is - an online auction. Advertisers bid against each other for a fixed position within a list of search results. The advertiser who bids the most is given the top spot in the list. Each advertiser bids according to their budget, and has to know his or her Return On Investment (ROI) to determine how much money should be spent on acquiring new customers.

How Do I Know Which Strategy Is Right For My Website? For those advertisers where the ROI is sensible or worthwhile, pay per click search engines are valuable customer acquisition tools. But is it right for you? While it can be expensive, here's a way for you to easily determine the ROI for your online business, and determine if it is the right choice for you. Take out a sheet of paper, and at the top of the sheet mark down the average price of the goods you sell - we'll use $100.00 for the purpose of the example. From that number, make some simple and basic calculations, outlined here:

$100.00 Sale Amount -$ 50.00 Cost of Goods -$ 5.00 Transaction Cost (bank charges, credit card) -$ 8.50 Shipping Fees (This assumes you're delivering a product, it needs a box, label, and has a delivery cost. -$ 10.00 Customer support costs - time on phone, email, etc... supporting and processing the transaction. What's 1 hour of your time worth? $ 26.50 = Margin Assuming this margin is correct for your website, is a Pay per Click campaign right for you? You'll need to look at your stats to judge this properly. You need to determine how many of your visitors are converting into buyers. IF your website has a 4% conversion rate, and your category is moderately competitive, you will probably need to budget at least $1.00 per click to get spot #3. Spot #3 is important because more often than not it's the top 3 spots per page of search engine results that are reserved for Pay per Click advertisers.

Assuming your website gets into the top three spots, here's how the math works if you get 100 clicks in a month. Since it's all percentage based, the same holds true if you get 25 clicks or 10,000 clicks.

100 clicks @ $1.00 per click = $100.00 cost 4% conversion = 4 sales = 4x $26.50 (margin on sale) = $106.00 Profit = $ 6.00

So, if the above were true, and IF the pay per click advertisement sent you 100 visitors per month, you would make only $6.00. Would you make much less having spot #4 instead of spot #3 ? If it meant one less sale a month, that would be worth it. You would make $70.00 more by selling less! Does spot #3 get much more traffic than relevant results in spots 4 through 10? Not at all for spot # 4, 5, 6, and only a little bit more for spot #'s 7-10. Remember, people usually look at the title or site description to see if it is relevant. Pay per Click is worth the money if your website is not found under any relevant queries in the top 20, but its value drops quickly if a website is found easily in the free listings within the search engines.

Is Pay for Inclusion Less Expensive? If we use the same calculation as above, and your website had 4 sales from a pay for inclusion engine where you paid $39.00 per year, or $3.25 / month, your profit would have been $103.25.

What About The Cost Of Search Engine Optimization? Search engine optimization does not have to be expensive. You can do the work yourself, but you need to ensure that it makes sense to do so. By this I mean, is doing it yourself a cost efficient, business proposition? Any time that you as an individual put into search engine optimization is time that you take away from business fundamentals and essentials. It's time away from customer support, content creation, service, administration, product research, other marketing, etc... What is that time worth? It's got to be part of the ROI calculation too. More and more people are choosing to outsource this work. It's estimated that 70% of online businesses will outsource non-core operations this year. It only makes sense. It's smart business to focus on what you know and do well and to hire others to support you in the other areas. Not many smart businessmen write their own contracts - they get their lawyer to do it. They want to ensure it's done right. Doing it right in the first place saves money in the long run. Outsourcing means getting someone else to do the work for you, properly. It does not mean getting someone to tell you what to do, or how to do things.

What's Right For Your Website? In the long run, a website operator that has a well optimized website will beat out a non-optimized website that concentrates on Pay per Click advertising for customer acquisition every day of the year. He may make fewer sales in a year, but he will make more profit from each sale. If the website is properly optimized, it will enjoy better placement in more search engines. This means it will survive, and prosper in the long run.
About the Author

Richard Zwicky is a founder and the CEO of Metamend Software, a Victoria B.C. based firm whose cutting edge Search Engine Optimization software has been recognized around the world as a leader in its field. Employing a staff of 10, the firm's business comes from around the world, with clients from every continent. Most recently the company was recognized for their geo-locational, or GIS technology, which correlates online businesses with their physical locations.

Who Wants To Start An Internet Home Based Business? by Jason Paul

Sure, working at home is great, but an Internet home based business takes the cake. I started an online home business 5 years ago and it has turned out to be the best decision I've ever made. Working online from home has many advantages, and in this brief article I'm going to give you a few reasons why I believe that Internet home based businesses are the best way to go if you're looking to escape the 9 to 5 rat race. Hopefully by the time you've finished reading this article, you'll have a better idea of the advantages that an online business offers.

Starting an Internet business is great because it gives you freedom. While most work from home businesses require you to be at your home office during the day, an Internet business gives you the ability to work from anywhere in the world as long as you have a computer and a reliable Internet connection. This is a big benefit to living the "Internet lifestyle" and one that I would never trade at any price.

Another benefit to starting an online home business is the fact that you can handle most of your business via email. Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good phone call as much as the next person... but email really gives you more options. For instance, why not outsource your email and support? This will free you up to do other things that are more productive and it doesn't cost much at all to implement.

Another reason I enjoy email more than the phone is that I can respond to inquiries when it's most convenient. When people call, they expect you to either pick up or return their call promptly. I've found that email responses of 24 hours are more than acceptable, which allows me to get back with people when it's convenient and I don't have the constant interruptions that I used to have.

Hopefully this short article has given you some good reasons to start an Internet home based business. Sure, there will be challenges along the way just as there are in any endeavor, but the potential rewards are out of this world.

About the Author

Discover how a lazy surf bum cracked the $100K a month code using the Reverse Funnel System at http://www.ReverseFunnelExplained.com today. Also, check out the Reverse Funnel System reviews blog.

Outsource And Fail Without This Internet Marketing Knowledge

Sure, you may know that outsourcing is a means of moving business forward, but it has its down side, which is why you must be careful to ensure that you get value for your money. The Internet parades lots of freelancers, but not all of them are good enough to help you achieve success online. For this reason, you, as an Internet marketer, whether you are a professional or newbie should acquaint yourself with the rudiments of outsourcing, so that you achieve your aim of getting what you want for success online.

Most Internet marketers make the mistake of trying to do all things by themselves or when they outsource, they do not get value for their money, because they are not able to ascertain the ability of those to whom they outsource.

Your business, image and income are at stake whenever you outsource, so ensure that you have a firm grasp on what you are outsourcing, so that you can determine that the end result will live up to your expectations. If it does not, your aim will not be achieved.

To achieve success with outsourcing, you must communicate with the person to whom you outsource. Even if you have no knowledge of how the work is done, you must have the idea of how you want the end result to look like, so tell it to him or her. It won’t be enough to just let him produce what he thinks you want. Give him some directions and monitor his output. Approve or disapprove the final result without hesitation.

The clearer you make your expectations to whosoever you outsource any work, the greater the chances that they will deliver a better end result. Bear in mind that a designer you do not give clear instruction as to the colors you prefer will not be able to go into your mind to find out which colors your prefer.

Make no mistake of outsourcing what you have no idea of, for if you do, how would you be able to measure its quality. Now I am not saying that you must understand how it is done, no, what you must understand is your expected result.

Finally, like the employer and the employee, the person to whom you outsource is responsible to you for the execution of an agreed contract for a monetary consideration, so like an employer, ensure that they earn their pay by the quality of work and time frame necessary to complete a given job. Today's outsourcing ideas are based on the same principles used in business from time immemorial, and understanding this will very much increase your chances of success.

Neshah writes for your SUCCESS. He recommends Advantages Of Internet Marketing..... Domain Names, The Internet's Best Money-Making Secret, through which You can acquire a simple, step-by-step system for getting thousands of dollars through very targeted, highly profitable traffic from expiring domains. And Download Free Anti Spyware, for your PC's protection from spyware, viruses, harmful registry, harmful hijackers etc.

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7 Ways a Virtual Assistant Can Make You Money

1. Scale down office space. Office space is very expensive. What if you could eliminate the costs by working from your home office? By hiring a VA, you can reduce or eliminate rent costs. A Virtual Assistant works from their own office, so there’s no need for additional space or trying to cram 2 people in a small home office.

2. No need to buy additional office equipment and software, and access to upgrades. Purchasing quality office equipment costs money, money that you may not want to purchase because it will drain your resources. Since a Virtual Assistant works for other clients, she has her own office equipment and supplies. If something breaks, she pays to have it fixed, not you. In order to run her business, a Virtual Assistant also needs to have current software. You can now have access to the latest software without incurring the cost yourself.

3. No employee related taxes, insurance, or benefits. Virtual Assistants are not employees, they are entrepreneurs themselves. They are responsible for paying their own taxes, and you no longer have to pay for health insurance. You also do not have to pay for employee sick days, vacations, and holidays.

4. No overtime and after-hours services. What if you need services provided after standard business hours? With an employee, you would have to do the job yourself. A Virtual Assistant offers the flexibility of having your work done even while you are asleep.

5. Minimal or no training required. In order to run efficiently, your staff needs to be up to date on software programs and take training. A Virtual Assistant has plenty of experience and requires minimum or no training at all.

6. Pay only for the time you use. When you have an employee, you have to pay them for coffee breaks, chats in the hall, surfing the internet. You also have to pay that employee regardless of the amount of work that needs completed. You may only need assistance for 5 hours a month, or 40 hours a month. With a Virtual Assistant, you only pay for the time she works on your job.

7. Professional results and dedication to your business. Have you ever felt that your employee is phoning it in? They are only there to put in their 40 hours and could care less if the company succeeds? Virtual Assistants are business owner themselves and have a high interest in helping your business succeed. Because of their experience and desire for your success, you will receive professional and timely results.

Jennifer Irving, owner of Executive Administrative Solutions, helps management consultants increase their concentration by providing executive-level virtual office assistance. Sign up for her free White Paper on the newsletter Economic Benefits of Virtual Office Assistance

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Lower Your Total Cost of Ownership with Virtual Office VoIP while Adding Flexibility

Virtual Office Voice over IP (VoIP) hosted PBX service, is a small business phone system alternative that allows small business to medium-sized businesses (SMB) anywhere in the world to employ an unlimited number of extension options and enjoy geographic independence and flexibility. Depending on the provider, the plans can include unlimited extensions, metered extensions or virtual extensions. Some providers can offer feature-rich telephone and options that can include a unique direct inbound dial (DID) telephone number for every extension for staff located in the same building or spread around the world.

Virtual Office Voice over IP (VoIP) hosted PBX service lowers most small business total cost of ownership (TCO) for phone services. Virtual Office Voice over IP (VoIP) hosted PBX service cuts the typical private branch exchange (PBX) system start up costs up to 90% through the delivery of a virtual PBX while reducing monthly phone bills by as much as 50% if not more.

Virtual Office Voice over IP (VoIP) hosted PBX services are designed with simple self-service tools for complete system and extension control. For organizations that require a full-service configuration, these features are included in some Virtual Office Voice over IP (VoIP) hosted PBX services for the same price.

In addition to enjoying benefits from the Virtual Office Voice over IP (VoIP) hosted PBX service solution such as unlimited calls to the United States and Canada for a low, flat monthly fee, companies subscribing to a Virtual Office Voice over IP (VoIP) hosted PBX service can eliminate the overhead cost associated with brick and mortar buildings with the use of this VoIP PBX system by operating out of different locations without losing any powerful PBX functionality or having to pay premium local and long distance charges for inter-office calling.

There is one very impressive Virtual Office Voice over IP (VoIP) hosted PBX service that I am impressed with. This provider's Virtual Office Voice over IP (VoIP) hosted PBX service provides Unlimited Calling, Auto-Attendant, Full Featured Conference Bridge, and Business-class Voicemail. The most impresssive of all the features of this particular Virtual Office Voice over IP (VoIP) hosted PBX service are the following:

Administrative Controls:
- This particular Virtual Office Voice over IP (VoIP) hosted PBX service includes an administration web portal for all PBX, auto-attendant, ring groups and complete extension control

- Extension Manager allowing users the ability to control all extension settings including busy, ring-no-answer, and Internet outage handling ring duration and forwarding destinations. Other settings in Extension Manager including forwarding rules, one number access, caller ID blocking, call waiting disable and other unique settings.

- Switchboard is a great live answer application that runs on a PC and works in conjunction with the Virtual Office phone to assist operators and secretaries in seeing extension status indicators and provide quick and accurate call answering and distribution controls.

Virtual Attendant:
This particular Virtual Office Voice over IP (VoIP) hosted PBX service with Virtual Attendant is a powerful, automated call routing solution that allows businesses to connect wired, mobile, home phones and other Virtual Office extensions, regardless of geographic location, under a single primary phone number. Virtual Attendant can be used as either an independent service or in conjunction with an accompanying Virtual Office Service Plan.

This Virtual Office Voice over IP (VoIP) hosted PBX service provides more features than I can list in this article.This though should be enough to get you started on the road to PBX solutions If you would like more information about Virtual Office Voice over IP (VoIP) hosted PBX service please contact me.

Joseph Brochin
www.Brochin.net
888-207-4784 (Toll free)
910-546-3489 (Cell)
Joseph.Brochin@Brochin.net

**Check out one of my blogs below**
www.brochin.net/blog

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The Great Thing About Virtual Offices

Running a business online is all about flexibility and freedom. One of the keys to this is your virtual office.

The Great Thing About Virtual Offices

Imagine you decide to open a business offline, for example a store selling tools. You will have to find a location, commit to tens of thousands of dollars in rent and, most importantly, actually go to work everyday. After all, who else is going to open the front door each morning? On top of this, your pool of customers is limited to those willing to drive to your location. All of these limitations and aggravations associated with a physical store go by the wayside when you go online.

Having worked online for a very long time, I can tell you the freedom to work when you want to is by far the best aspect of the Internet. Here is the proof. As I am writing this article, it is 1:13 p.m. I am at home. I am wearing sweats. After being up all night on a project, I am thinking about going back to bed. This is all possible because I have an online business. In fact, our business is so virtual oriented that I have never physically met some of my programmers. They live in other countries! Sounds like a good excuse to travel, however.

Being online gives you massive freedom and flexibility because you are not limited geographically. Your business should revolve around your laptop. If possible, you should try to store every bit of information online. Taking this approach turns you into a virtual business with a virtual office and lets you access work whenever you want from wherever you want. What do I mean by this?

Assume you have an online business selling something on the web. Where is your physical office? To figure it out, take a look around you. If you are in an airport, that is your office. If you are at home, your office is there and so on. This flexibility is crucial because it gives you access to your business at all times. You will never get this with a physical location.

You are probably wondering about a business address and meetings with clients. Neither is a problem with a virtual office. You can use one of the various mail box services for your business address. Just make sure they list the box number as a suite. As to meetings, you just go to clients who will appreciate the fact you don’t make them come to you. If you must host a meeting, you can rent conference rooms in “executive office suites” in any town or city. Compare the cost of renting an office suite versus leasing a physical office for three or five years, and the virtual office advantage should be very obvious.

I love my virtual office and you will to. It saves you money, gives you flexibility and is one of the primary benefits of running a business on the net.

Halstatt Pires is with MarketingTitan.com - providing internet marketing services.

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How To Use Outsourcing To Beat Your Competition

Outsourcing is when you hire outside professionals or services to take on part of your business workload.You may want to outsource part of your work because you don't have the room, you need an expert, you have periodic busy periods, or you need more production to get orders out on time etc. You could outsource accounting, secretarial tasks , factory help, computer training, web design etc. Below are ways to use outsoursing to beat your competition.

By outsourcing part of your workload you can save time and spend more time concentrating on beating your competition.

-you won't have to take time training new employees

-you won't have to do time consuming tasks like adding on new equipment

-you won't have to learn a new software program or other equipment

-you won't have to interview employee candidates

-you won't have to fill out all the complicated employee paper work like tax forms, scheduling, retirement plans etc.

By outsourcing part of your workload you can save money and spend more money on marketing or advertising to beat your competition.

-you won't have to buy extra office and other equipment

-you won't have to buy extra office or work space

-you won't have spend money on employee costs like; taxes, medical, vacation time, holidays, workers comp., unemployment costs etc. (these may vary by which country you do business)

There are many other ways outsourcing can help you beat your competition. Here are a few more:

-the extra help can help you complete and deliver orders faster

-you could expand your market share by becoming the middleman and offering your subcontractors services or products

-you could end up getting orders from your subcontractors

-it will allow your business to take on extra or large orders

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Julia Tang publishes "Smart Online Business Tips", a fresh
and informative newsletter dedicated to supporting people
like you. To find out the best online business opportunities,
to discover hundreds more proven and practical internet
marketing secrets, plus FREE internet marketing products
worth over $200, visit: http://www.best-internet-businesses.com
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